Listening Bible

Miscellaneous

Joseph, surnamed Barnabas "son of encouragement" by the Apostles, was a Levite from Cyprus. He might have been one of the 72 disciples of the Lord. If not the founder, he was certainly the one who organized the church in Antioch, where the followers of Jesus were for the first time called CHRISTIANS. He introduced Paul to the church of Antioch and became his faithful companion in many of his missionary endeavors. According to tradition, he was stoned by the Jews in Salamina. His feast day falls on June 11 in both the Catholic and Orthodox Church.